The Qatar World Cup 2022 shows how money has corrupted football

Not that Beckham needs the money. (He and wife Victoria are said to be worth almost £400 million.) But, for Qatar, it will have been money well spent if he helps persuade the world that it was wise to stage the world’s most prestigious football tournament there. For that’s quite a task.

Qatar’s human rights record would win the approval of the most hardline Iranian mullah – especially when it comes to women’s rights. Put simply,…